Citation
Abstract
In recent years it has become evident that, if future science needs are to be met, the capacity of the telecommunications link between planetary spacecraft and the Earth must be increased by orders of magnitude. Both the number of spacecraft and higher data rates demand the increased capacity. Technologies to support the increased capacity include even larger antennas, optical receiving systems, or arrays of antennas. This article describes a large array of small antennas that would be implemented for a fraction of the cost of an equivalent 70-m aperture. Adding additional antennas can increase the sensitivity many fold over current capabilities. The array will consist of 400 parabolic reflector antennas, each of which will be 12 m in diameter. Each antenna will operate simultaneously at both X-band (8 to 8.8 GHz) and Ka-band (31 to 38 GHz) and will be configured with radio frequency (RF) electronics, including the feeds, low-noise amplifiers, and frequency converters, as well as the appropriate servo controls and drives. The array also includes the signal transmission and signal processing to enable the system to track from between 1 and 16 different signals. A significant feature of this system is that it will be done for relatively very low cost compared to the current antenna paradigms. This is made possible by the use of low-cost antenna reflector technology, the extensive use of monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), and, finally, by using commercially available equipment to the maximum extent possible. Cost can be further reduced by the acceptance of lower antenna element reliability. High system availability will be maintained by a design paradigm that provides for a marginal set of excess antenna elements for any particular tracking period. Thus, the same total system availability is achieved for lower element availability. The “plug-and-play” aspects of the assemblies will enhance maintainability and operability. The project plans include a modest start of 12 antennas at the U.S. longitude.
Keywords
Details
- Volume
- 42-157
- Published
- May 15, 2004
- Pages
- 1–9
- File Size
- 317.7 KB